Dressing for England

Our November 2025 lecture is given by Amy L. Montz, whose new book, Dressing for England explores fashion and nationalism in a number of Victorian novels, including Cranford. 

A Visit to Hardy’s Wessex – part 3

Dr Diane Duffy has paid a visit to Wessex to explore the life, work and inspiration of Thomas Hardy. Far From the Madding Crowd is the subject of our 2025-26 […]

The Elizabeth Gaskell Memorial Service 2025

Each year we have a service to commemorate the anniversary of the birth of Elizabeth Gaskell in September 1810.  This year, we assembled to mark the occasion on Sunday 21 […]

The Gaskell Society on the BBC

Michael Portillo, former government minster turned television presenter (and famous for his brightly-coloured clothes), asked the Gaskell Society’s Chair, Dr Diane Duffy, to contribute to a BBC programme celebrating the […]

A Letter From Julia Gaskell

Over the past year a number of unpublished letters from Elizabeth’s daughters have been brought to our notice. Last year, for example, a letter from Meta (Margaret) Gaskell was discovered […]